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4 O'Clock Forecast: Weekend will start with a bang

Friday 4 O'Clock Forecast

Anglers right now are heading outside first thing in the morning to catch their speckled trout before finishing the day in the interior waters reeling in redfish. (Photo by Todd Masson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
(Todd Masson)

The pattern has been consistent the past three days: Winds are flat calm in the morning before picking up a bit in the afternoon. For many anglers, that hasn't been a problem because they're back at the dock cleaning their limits before the breezes arrive.

Fishing has really been that good. The same speckled trout that were so hard to find only weeks ago now seem to be everywhere. They're thick in both the inside and outside waters. Many anglers are running outside to catch their trout in the morning, and then fishing reds in the marshes.

After a chilly spring, the brown shrimp have finally gotten to a size to be noticed by speckled trout, so not surprisingly, the hot bait has been live shrimp. Purists and cheapskates have also been doing well with shrimp imitations.

Fish the plastics and live stuff on Carolina rigs or drop-shots near wellheads and platforms and under corks everywhere else.

Conditions look great for the weekend, but the tidal range is beginning to peter out. It'll still be good on Friday, decent on Saturday and flat on Sunday and Monday.